Falling down in Sochi

Updated 12:41 PM ET, Sun February 23, 2014

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Canada forward Jonathan Toews fights for the puck in the second period of the gold medal men's hockey game against Sweden on Sunday, February 23. As world-class athletes compete in the Winter Olympics, we expect to see elegant and thrilling performances. But some finishes, in triumph, defeat or just plain exhaustion, often involve landing hard on a cold, wet surface. Here, we take a lighter look at those giving their all for a chance at the gold. | More photos:Visions of Sochi

Hide Caption

1 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Skiers collapse on the snow after the men's 50-kilometer mass start free on February 23.

Hide Caption

2 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – The Czech Republic's Jiri Magal takes a fall in the men's cross-country skiing 50-kilometer mass start free on February 23.

Hide Caption

3 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Coraline Hugue of France is exhausted on Saturday, February 22, after finishing seventh in the women's 30-kilometer mass start free cross-country event.

Hide Caption

4 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Eva Vrabcova-Nyvltova of the Czech Republic collapses on February 22 after the women's 30-kilometer mass start free cross-country event.

Hide Caption

5 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Coraline Hugue of France collapses after the women's 30-kilometer mass start free cross-country event on February 22.

Hide Caption

6 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Prince Hubertus von Hohenlohe of Mexico goes down in the first run of the men's slalom on February 22.

Hide Caption

7 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Patrick Thaler of Italy crashes out in the first run of the men's slalom on February 22.

Hide Caption

8 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Emily Nishikawa of Canada collapses after the women's 30-kilometer mass start free cross-country event on February 22.

Hide Caption

9 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Canada's Shea Weber grimaces as he falls down during the hockey semifinal against the United States on Friday, February 21.

Hide Caption

10 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – America's Brooks Orpik, top, and Canada's Sidney Crosby fall to the ice during their semifinal game.

Hide Caption

11 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – U.S. forward David Backes hits Canada's Patrick Sharp on February 21.

Hide Caption

12 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Italy's Arianna Fontana falls as she competes in a 1,000-meter short track speedskating race on February 21.

Hide Caption

13 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Elise Christie of Great Britain hits the wall while competing in a 1,000-meter short track semifinal.

Hide Caption

14 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Short track speedskater Satoshi Sakashita of Japan falls as he competes in the quarterfinals of the men's 500 meters on February 21.

Hide Caption

15 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Vladimir Grigorev of Russia, right, hits the wall while Freek van der Wart of the Netherlands falls in a 500-meter short track race February 21.

Hide Caption

16 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – American speedskater J.R. Celski falls as he competes in the 500-meter short track competition on February 21.

Hide Caption

17 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – China's Li Jianrou falls in the semifinals of the women's 1,000-meter short track competition on February 21.

Hide Caption

18 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Iranian skier Forough Abbasi falls during the women's slalom on February 21.

Hide Caption

19 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Stephanie Joffroy of Chile crashes in the women's ski cross on February 21.

Hide Caption

20 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Short track speedskaters Freek van der Wart of the Netherlands, left, and Vladimir Grigorev of Russia fall to the ice in the 500-meter quarterfinals on February 21.

Hide Caption

21 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Finland's Sami Vatanen, left, vies for the puck with Sweden's Gabriel Landeskog during the men's hockey semifinal on February 21.

Hide Caption

22 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Slovakia's Barbora Lukacova falls during the women's slalom on February 21.

Hide Caption

23 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Short track speedskater Satoshi Sakashita of Japan hits the wall during the men's 500 meters on February 21.

Hide Caption

24 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Kim Hae-jin of South Korea falls as she competes in the women's figure skating competition on Thursday, February 20.

Hide Caption

25 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Canada's Brady Leman crashes in the men's ski cross final on February 20.

Hide Caption

26 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Amy Sheehan of Australia crashes during the women's halfpipe on February 20.

Hide Caption

27 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Angeli Vanlaanen of the United States crashes in the women's halfpipe on February 20.

Hide Caption

28 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Russian figure skater Julia Lipnitskaia falls as she performs her free skate on February 20.

Hide Caption

29 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Brita Sigourney of the United States crashes in the women's halfpipe on February 20.

Hide Caption

30 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Akiko Suzuki of Japan falls during the figure skating competition February 20.

Hide Caption

31 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Rosalind Groenewoud of Canada crashes in the women's halfpipe.

Falling down in Sochi – Alexei Grishin of Belarus crashes in men's aerials.

Hide Caption

74 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Zhongqing Liu of China crashes in men's aerials.

Hide Caption

75 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Snowboarders fall during the quarterfinals of women's snowboard cross on Sunday, February 16.

Hide Caption

76 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Danish skier Christoffer Faarup crashes during the men's super-G on February 16.

Hide Caption

77 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Spain's Paul de la Cuesta competes in the men's super-G on February 16.

Hide Caption

78 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Canada's Erik Guay falls during the men's super-G.

Hide Caption

79 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Yuka Fujimori of Japan falls during the women's snowboard cross on February 16.

Hide Caption

80 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Petr Nedved of the Czech Republic falls to the ice after being checked by Switzerland's Yannick Weber during the men's hockey game on February 15.

Hide Caption

81 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – China's Alang Ki, in red, and the USA's Emily Scott crash into the wall after colliding during the finals of the women's 1,500-meter short track speedskating race on February 15.

Hide Caption

82 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – U.S. forward T.J. Oshie goes flying into the boards during the first period of the men's hockey game against Russia on February 15.

Hide Caption

83 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Swedish hockey player Daniel Sedin, in yellow, vies with Latvia's Sandis Ozolinsh on February 15.

Hide Caption

84 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – U.S. skier Stacey Cook falls during the women's super-G on February 15.

Hide Caption

85 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Russian forward Yekaterina Smolentseva tumbles over Swiss goalie Florence Schelling during the women's hockey game on February 15.

Hide Caption

86 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Canada's Charles Hamelin crashes, taking out American Eduardo Alvarez during the quarterfinals of the 1,000-meter short track speedskating event.

Hide Caption

87 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Silver medalist Xu Mengtao of China lands while competing in the women's aerials on Friday, February 14.

Hide Caption

88 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Canada's P.K. Subban, bottom, collides with Austria's Oliver Setzinger during the men's ice hockey game on February 14.

Hide Caption

89 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Lydia Lassila of Australia crashes in the women's aerials on February 14.

Hide Caption

90 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Japan's Yuzuru Hanyu falls as he performs in the men's figure skating event on February 14.

Hide Caption

91 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Assoli Slivets of Belarus crashes in the women's aerials on February 14.

Hide Caption

92 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Patrick Chan of Canada falls during the men's figure skating competition on February 14.

Hide Caption

93 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Emily Cook of the United States crashes in the women's aerials.

Hide Caption

94 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – China's Li Nina crashes in women's aerials.

Hide Caption

95 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Hanna Huskova of Belarus crashes out in women's aerials.

Hide Caption

96 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Russia's Alexandra Orlova crashes during the women's aerials.

Hide Caption

97 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Cross-country skier Elisa Gasparin of Switzerland collapses at the finish line of the women's 15-kilometer race on February 14.

Hide Caption

98 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Belarus' Alla Tsuper competes in the women's aerials.

Hide Caption

99 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – French skier Alexis Pinturault crashes out during the men's super-combined event on February 14.

Hide Caption

100 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Norwegian cross-country skier Chris Andre Jespersen lies on the snow after crossing the finish line in the men's 15-kilometer classic on February 14.

Hide Caption

101 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Switzerland's Dario Cologna crosses the finish line to win gold in the men's 15-kilometer classic on February 14.

Hide Caption

102 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Latvia's Sandis Ozolinsh smashes into Milan Michalek of the Czech Republic during the men's hockey game on February 14.

Hide Caption

103 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Saevar Birgisson of Iceland collapses after competing in the men's 15-kilometer classic.

Hide Caption

104 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Hockey player Martin Erat of the Czech Republic falls to the ice February 14.

Hide Caption

105 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Cross-country skier Iivo Niskanen of Finland lies on the snow at the finish line of the men's 15-kilometer classic.

Hide Caption

106 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – French skier Adrien Backscheider lies on the snow after the men's 15-kilometer classic.

Hide Caption

107 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Yuri Danilochkin of Belarus crashed during the downhill portion of the men's super-combined event February 14.

Hide Caption

108 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Ryan Kesler of the United States battles Slovakia's Michal Handzus for the puck during their men's hockey game on Thursday, February 13.

Hide Caption

109 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Jeremy Abbott of the United States hits the wall in front of his coaches, Yuka Sato and Jason Dungjen, while competing in the men's individual event on February 13.

Hide Caption

110 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Cross-country skier Mathilde Amivi Petitjean of Togo sits in the snow after crossing the finish line in the women's 10-kilometer classic on February 13.

Hide Caption

111 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – South Korean speedskater Lee Bo-Ra falls during the women's 1,000 meters on February 13.

Hide Caption

112 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – German speedskater Monique Angermueller falls during the women's 1,000 meters.

Hide Caption

113 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Skier Henrik Harlaut of Sweden falls during the men's slopestyle competition on February 13.

Hide Caption

114 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Cross-country skier Charlotte Kalla of Sweden reacts after crossing the finish line during the women's 10-kilometer classic on February 13.

Hide Caption

115 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – From left, Italy's Arianna Fontana, Great Britain's Elise Christie and South Korea's Park Seung-Hi fall as they compete in the 500-meter short track speedskating final on February 13.

Hide Caption

116 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Russell Henshaw of Australia crashes out in the men's slopestyle finals on February 13.

Hide Caption

117 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Cross-country skier Alenka Cebasek of Slovenia falls to the ground after the women's 10-kilometer classic.

Hide Caption

118 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Aino-Kaisa Saarinen of Finland reacts after crossing the finish line during the women's 10-kilometer classic.

Hide Caption

119 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Oscar Wester of Sweden falls during the men's slopestyle.

Hide Caption

120 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Nicholas Goepper of the United States crashes in the men's slopestyle February 13.

Hide Caption

121 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Finland's Aleksi Patja crashes in the men's slopestyle.

Hide Caption

122 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Italy's Markus Eder crashes in the men's slopestyle.

Hide Caption

123 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Norway's Per Kristian Hunder crashes in the men's slopestyle.

Hide Caption

124 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Canada's Meagan Duhamel falls during her free skating routine with Eric Radford on Wednesday, February 12.

Hide Caption

125 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Kamil Stoch of Poland crashes during a training session for the large hill ski jumping event on February 12.

Hide Caption

126 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Kelly Clark of the United States falls during her first run in the women's halfpipe finals February 12.

Hide Caption

127 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Czech hockey player Martin Erat, right, collides with Sweden's Erik Karlsson, bottom, and Patrik Berglund during their game on February 12.

Hide Caption

128 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Italy's Stefania Berton falls as she performs with Italy's Ondrej Hotarek during pairs figure skating on February 12.

Hide Caption

129 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Skiers fall to the ground after the cross-country portion of the men's Nordic combined event February 12.

Hide Caption

130 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Megan Bozek of the United States, left, vies for the puck with Marie-Philip Poulin of Canada during their hockey game February 12.

Hide Caption

131 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Snowboarder Alexandra Duckworth of Canada crashes out in the women's halfpipe semifinals on February 12.

Hide Caption

132 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Riikka Valila of Finland takes a shot against Florence Schelling of Switzerland while teammates crash on the ice during a women's hockey game February 12.

Hide Caption

133 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Skier Marie Marchand-Arvier of France crashes during a run in the women's downhill event on February 12.

Hide Caption

134 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Laura Benz of Switzerland checks Saija Tarkki of Finland into the boards during a women's hockey game on February 12.

Hide Caption

135 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Snowboarder Kent Callister of Australia crashes out in the men's halfpipe finals on Tuesday, February 11.

Hide Caption

136 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Italy's Stefania Berton falls as she performs in pairs figure skating on February 11.

Hide Caption

137 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Russian speedskater Yekaterina Lobysheva falls while competing in the 500 meters on February 11.

Hide Caption

138 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Danny Davis of the United States falls during his first run in the halfpipe finals on February 11.

Hide Caption

139 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Snowboarder Seamus O'Connor of Ireland crashes during the men's halfpipe competition on February 11.

Hide Caption

140 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Italy's Matteo Guarise falls during his performance with Nicole Della Monica during pairs figure skating on February 11.

Hide Caption

141 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Linnea Backman of Sweden, center, fights for the puck against Nina Kamenik, left, and Kerstin Spielberger of Germany during their Group B hockey game on February 11.

Hide Caption

142 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Norway's Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg, top, and Maiken Caspersen Falla celebrate after finishing second and first, respectively, in the women's cross-country sprint on February 11.

Hide Caption

143 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Norway's Marit Bjoergen falls as she competes with Katja Visnar of Slovenia, left, and Denise Herrmann of Germany during the finals of the women's cross-country sprint on February 11.

Hide Caption

144 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Canadian skier Yuki Tsubota crashes in the slopestyle finals on February 11.

Hide Caption

145 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – France's Johann Baisamy crashes in the men's halfpipe semifinals on February 11.

Hide Caption

146 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Finnish snowboarder Markus Malin falls on the halfpipe on February 11.

Hide Caption

147 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Slovenian biathlete Teja Gregorin, center, collapses at the finish line of the women's 10-kilometer pursuit on February 11.

Hide Caption

148 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Sweden's Jenni Asserholt falls after missing a hit on Germany's Julia Zorn during their ice hockey match on February 11.

Hide Caption

149 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Russian skier Anna Mirtova falls during slopestyle qualification on February 11.

Hide Caption

150 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Austria's Philomena Bair falls during slopestyle qualification on February 11.

Hide Caption

151 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Devin Logan of the United States slides down the mountain at the end of her slopestyle run on February 11.

Hide Caption

152 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Italian skier Silvia Bertagna falls during slopestyle qualification on February 11.

Hide Caption

153 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Snowboarder Dolf van der Wal of the Netherlands falls as he competes in the halfpipe on February 11.

Hide Caption

154 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Anna Mirtova of Russia falls while competing in the slopestyle event on February 11.

Hide Caption

155 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Anna Segal of Australia falls while competing in slopestyle.

Hide Caption

156 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Jack Whelbourne of Great Britain falls during the men's 1,500-meter short track speedskating final on Monday, February 10

Hide Caption

157 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Chinese skier Liu Zhongqing crashes during aerials training on February 10.

Hide Caption

158 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Speedskater Shi Jingnan of China crashes in a men's 1,500-meter short track race on February 10.

Hide Caption

159 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Australia's Daniel Greig crashes February 10 in the first heat of his 500-meter speedskating race.

Hide Caption

160 of 209

Photos: Falling down in Sochi209 photos

Falling down in Sochi – Kazakhstan's Dmitriy Barmashov falls during qualifying for the men's moguls event on February 10.